The court had ordered treatment for PTSD instead of jail after Tony Klecker killed a teen in a drunk-driving accident.
Star Tribune
Last update: January 23, 2008 - 9:57 PM
Tony Klecker, who killed a teenager in a drunken-driving accident in 2006, could face 3 1/2 years in prison for his failure to remain in a court-ordered in-patient program for war veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder.
Last June, District Judge David Knutson gave Klecker, 30, a break in his sentencing for criminal vehicular homicide, staying a 57-month prison sentence and ordering him to serve a year in jail.
The mother of Deanna Casey, his 16-year-old Inver Grove Heights victim, had agreed to the sentence because it required Klecker, a Marine who fought in Iraq's bloodiest combat zones, to get treatment for the stress disorder.
During that wait, however, Klecker's symptoms worsened, and he became emotional around the one-year anniversary of the fatal accident, his attorney said. After the argument, he was asked to leave the hospital, although he would be allowed to participate on an out-patient basis. That, however, wouldn't meet the terms of his probation.
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He completed the substance abuse part October 12 but then had to wait over a month longer for the next stage to begin. What was being done in between stage one and two for this veteran and all the other? There are so many questions in this that I'm stunned.
No one wants to see a wounded veteran going to jail because of his wounds. While this program seems that it will be a wonderful other option than jail, what were they thinking? Was there anything being done for him in between the wait? Did he get medication? Did he get therapy? Did he get anything after stage one?
The other part of this is the Mom of the teenager killed while he was drunk driving. She must have a heart of gold to be able to forgive him enough to want to see him helped instead of sent to jail.
How do we know that the media has all the facts? Has anyone from the VA spoken of behalf of this issue? I just know in my experience that the media says things that aren't always factual. I have a hard time believing the VA treatment center, who I am guessing have specialized professionals working on his case, just let this vet be in limbo. I think it's only fair to hear the other sides of this story
ReplyDeleteThere are always two sides of a story and this one was taken from a court case. I asked the same questions you had because if it is true, you can be sure it is happening to more than one veteran. If it is true then it needs to be stopped from happening again.
ReplyDeleteMost of the people working for the VA do it because they love the veterans. They do it for less money than they can get in private practice. They have to work with what the system has set up. If there is something wrong going on, we need to take care of it for all of them as well. They need all the help they can get to do their jobs, jobs they love.
As for the media, it depends on the reporter. Most of them do a good job. Looks like we'll have to wait until Feb. for the answer or you could call the reporter.
Wednesday, a frustrated Knutson continued the probation-violation hearing until Feb. 7, when he expects to hear testimony from VA experts about why Klecker had not received the in-patient treatment ordered. Brock said there are only 10 VA beds in Minnesota for PTSD victims, and there is often a wait. "A lot of people don't understand," said Klecker's mother, Pat Klecker of Shoreview, who is pushing for him to get more treatment. "He went into that war fine, and he came out broken. It's not just that he's an alcoholic."
Joy Powell • 612-673-7750